Lindsay Moore plays through serious injury

DOVER — Running hard to the basket, Lindsay Moore was about to finish off a fast break when her right knee buckled as she went up for the shot.

The injury — later diagnosed as a torn anterior cruciate ligament — ended the two-sport athlete’s basketball career at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and put her senior softball season in jeopardy.

“It kind of felt like my kneecap dislocated,” she said. “I could feel my bones moving. I didn’t hear a pop like some people do. I’m like ‘oh no.’ The first question I asked the trainer was ‘will I be able to play softball?”

The eventual answer was yes, but with certain restrictions. She couldn’t play in the field and she’d have to wear a protective brace under her over-sized uniform pants that stretched from mid-thigh to mid-calf.

So the team’s three-year starter at shortstop became its full-time designated hitter.

“That was one of the best days of my life,” said Moore, who lives in Barrington and starred at Dover High School. “I don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t play softball.”

Meanwhile the Monks were working on a contingency plan in case they had to proceed without their No. 3 hitter and three-time, all-conference shortstop, who briefly explored another option.

“People talked to me about redshirting and getting (the knee) healthy,” Moore said, “but I didn’t want to spend the money for another whole year just for softball. It would have been upsetting if I couldn’t play softball, but it would have been more upsetting if I couldn’t graduate with my class and play in the senior game with them.”

Moore made it through the season intact, although the knee will need surgery, which is scheduled for June 10.

“When the injury happened I felt terrible for her,” said St. Joe’s softball coach Jamie Smyth. “You don’t want to see any player end their career on a bad note. It’s a testament to the type of young lady she is. It wasn’t easy. She worked hard for everything she got this year. It was a tough transition, but she seemed to make it seamlessly.”

Moore missed just one game as the Monks finished with a 34-6 record and captured their fourth consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference title.

She was also named first team all-conference for the fourth year in a row to cap a memorable season in which she became the third player in the program’s history to reach 200 career hits.

“I didn’t even know I was that close until I was one hit away,” she said. “I overheard people talking about it. That’s when I knew. It was a huge accomplishment for me. It’s a great feeling to finish out my career just as strong as when I started.”

Initially, that milestone seemed like a longshot given the physical and mental adjustments she was facing because of the injury.

“It definitely came hard at first,” Moore said. “It got to the point where I wasn’t worrying about it anymore. In the beginning it was more on my mind. It seemed more natural to have a big brace on my leg. It actually helped my hitting a little bit. I tend to have happy feet in the (batter’s) box, but I couldn’t move much. That forced me to stay back and square up the pitch.”

The senior co-captain wound up hitting .373 with two home runs and 28 RBIs. She was second on the team in RBIs, tied for second in home runs and third in batting average.

“Did I expect it? No,” Smyth said. “Did it surprise me? No, knowing the type of competitor she is and the type of kid she is. I never had a player in 17 years play with that type of injury. It was quite remarkable what she was able to accomplish.”

Despite those impressive numbers, there was a learning curve.

Moore had trouble running with the brace on at first. Her knees kept hitting each other causing bruises.

“It didn’t hurt to run the bases, except when I cut or pivoted a certain way,” Moore said. “It hurt when I stopped quick in the beginning, but then I got used to it. I got in a pickle in Florida. That was kind of a killer.”

And sliding was an adventure.

“I slid a couple times,” she said. “It took a while before I could actually do it. The first one was kind of ugly, but it didn’t hurt. I flopped on the base.”

But she didn’t flop at the plate. Moore finished with a .404 career batting average with 216 hits in 173 games, 15 home runs and 142 RBIs.

She hit a career-high .453 as a junior with 21 doubles, two home runs and a career-best 41 RBIs.

“It was a whole new experience for me to manage someone with that type of injury,” Smyth said. “It was a learning process for me as well. It was certainly gratifying for me as a coach to see her perform at such a high level during a senior year that was in jeopardy.”

It’s no coincidence the Monks went 138-38 during Moore’s career, averaging slightly more than 34 wins per season.

The timing was perfect for both parties when Moore was coming out of Dover High. Division III St. Joe’s was looking for a middle infielder and Moore was looking for a school where she could play two sports.

“She’s a tremendous athlete and competitor,” said Smyth, the head coach at St. Joe’s since 1998. “When I saw her practice and play as a freshman, I knew she was going to be a special player.”

Moore made an immediate impact, hitting .397 with five home runs and 34 RBIs her rookie campaign. As a sophomore she batted .384 with six homers and 39 runs batted in.

A three-year starter in basketball, Moore averaged 9.3 points per game and 5.8 rebounds in 99 career games, and was named GNAC defensive player of the year as a junior.

“I thought I would do well,” said Moore, who graduated with a degree in accounting, “but I never expected to do this well.”

“All-around,” Smyth said, “she’s probably one of the top two or three players I’ve ever coached.”